Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – More than $5,000 was raised recently through an art auction to enhance arts education for students in Aroostook County.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
HEATHER HARVELL of Presque Isle was one of 12 artists who participated in the second annual “Paint Presque Isle: A Fresh Paint Event and Auction,” which was held Aug. 29 as part of the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest. Artists canvassed the Star City and painted whatever inspired them, and then the original works were auctioned off that night. More than $5,000 was raised for the Aroostook Partners in the Arts, which seeks to enhance arts education for students in the region. Here, Harvell creates a watercolor and graphite painting of the Presque Isle Congregational Church on Church Street.
According to Dory Smith, co-chair of the Aroostook Partners in the Arts, $5,300 was netted from the second annual “Paint Presque Isle: A Fresh Paint Event and Auction,” which was held Aug. 29 as part of the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest. Last year’s auction raised $1,800.
“It was a wonderful event,” said Smith. “The rain held off until that night, which I think helped us because they cancelled the balloon launch and much of the Street Fair activities so people came into the Northeastland Hotel for shelter.
“We doubled everything,” she said. “We doubled our profits, we had probably more than double the people in attendance at the auction, we had almost twice as many paintings to auction, and we had a wonderful silent auction, too. We all felt it was a success and we look forward to doing it again next summer.”
Heather Harvell – one of 12 artists that canvassed the Star City and created original artwork for the auction – relied on the Presque Isle Congregational Church for inspiration and created a watercolor and graphite painting.
“I decided to paint the church because I really liked the Black-Eyed Susans and the stained glass windows,” she said. “Plus the church is part of the historical downtown walking tour, and there’s a lot of history there.
“This is such a great event,” said Harvell. “I really enjoy getting the opportunity to come out and paint, interact with fellow artists, and raise money for a worthy cause.”
Artist Arelis Jimenez set up her easel behind Presque Isle Redemption on the Washburn Road and painted the Aroostook River complete with the old bridge off in the distance.
“The bridge and river are so beautiful,” she said. “It’s an old bridge which is more intrinsic and has old colors. I like how it reflects on the water.
“This is a lot of fun,” Jimenez said of creating her acrylic painting. “I just wanted to support the arts.”
Four of the artists – including Harvell – created two paintings during the day. Smith said a couple of the artists had work bring in nearly $500 each. Don Zillman served as the evening’s auctioneer.
Smith said the Aroostook Partners in the Arts, which organized in 1995 to work cooperatively with local schools to develop, support and sponsor high quality performing arts, visual arts and humanities experiences for school age children, has already spent some of the funds raised from this year’s auction.
“We just voted to spend $550 on two requests that came in from Presque Isle High School. We’re paying for a bus to take 48 freshmen to Portland for a performance of the Portland Stage Co., and we are helping to fund local saxophonist Justin Wood and his group, Spoke, who will be doing performances and workshops with the Presque Isle Middle School and PIHS bands.”
Organizers are already thinking about next year’s art event.
“This is a great way for us to support local artists and give them an opportunity to display their talent, plus raise funds for a worthwhile cause,” Smith said. “Everyone had a great time. We were greatly encouraged this year by the number of artists participating, the number of people attending the auction and the prices, and we are certainly going to do it another year.”
Aroostook Partners in the Arts meets at 11:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month in the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library community room. APA is interested in representation from surrounding towns such as Ashland, Fort Fairfield, Easton, Mars Hill and Washburn.
Anyone interested in joining the group is invited to attend a meeting.
For more information, contact Smith at 764-4564.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
ARELIS JIMENEZ of Presque Isle set up her easel behind Presque Isle Redemption on the Washburn Road and painted the Aroostook River – complete with the old bridge off in the distance – during the recent “Paint Presque Isle: A Fresh Paint Event and Auction,” which was held Aug. 29 as part of the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest. Jimenez was one of 12 artists to create original pieces that were auctioned off that night. The second annual event raised $5,300 for the Aroostook Partners in the Arts.
